B’nai B’rith International strongly supports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his declarations at the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington, where he reiterated Israel’s right to “defend itself, by itself against any threats,” saying, “Never again will we not be masters of the fate of our very survival.”

Netanyahu focused on the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran, saying it must be stopped. “I will never let my people live in the shadow of annihilation,” he said.

Israel alone reserves the right to determine the best course of action to uphold its own safety and security, to maintain freedom and democracy for its citizens. The global Jewish community shares Israel’s deep concern over the danger of a nuclear-armed Iran. As an organization, B’nai B’rith strongly endorses Israel’s right to do all in its power to safeguard the country.

Since Israel’s founding in 1948, each Israeli prime minister has done everything in his or her power to protect the Israeli people from outside threats. Today is no exception.

B’nai B’rith International welcomes the important discussions on this subject yesterday between Netanyahu and President Obama at the White House. We continue to urge the international community to bring increased pressure on the Tehran regime to cease its pursuit of nuclear weapons.